APPRENTICE, (from apprendre, "to learn,") one who is bound by covenant to serve a tradesman or artificer a certain time, upon condition of the master's instructing him in his art or mystery.

Apprentices may likewise be bound to husbandmen, or even to gentlemen; and they, as well as tradesmen in England, are compellable to take the children of the poor, whom the overseers, with the consent of two justices, may bind till the age of 21 years. Apprentices may be discharged on reasonable cause; but if any, whose premium has been less than ten pounds, run away from their masters, they are compellable to serve out the time of absence, or give satisfaction for it, at any period within seven years after expiration of the original contract. Apprentices gain a settlement in that parish where they last served 40 days; and by the 5th of Elizabeth, c. 4, they have an exclusive right to exercise the trade in which they have been instructed, in any part of England. However, the resolutions of the courts have in general rather confined than extended the restriction of this statute. See Blackstone's Com., vol. i. p. 426, &c.

In France, the sons of tradesmen, living in their father's house till seventeen years of age, are reputed to have served an apprenticeship. In that country, the times of serving are different in the different professions, from three years to eight. After serving out an apprenticeship, the person becomes what they call an aspirant, or candidate for mastership, and is to be examined by proper officers as to his skill and proficiency, and also to exhibit a chef d'œuvre or masterpiece in the art he has been bred to, before he be suffered to set up to practise for himself.

Anciently, benchers in the inns of court were called apprentices of the law, in Latin apprentici juris nobiliores; as appears by Mr Selden's note on Fortescue: and so the learned Plowden styles himself. Sir Henry Finch, in his Nomotechnic, writes himself, apprentice de ley: Sir Edward Coke in his Inst. says Apprentici legis, in pleading, are called homines consiliarii et in lege periti; and in another place, apprentices and other counsellors of law.

Apprentices indentures and articles of clerkship, pay of duty 6s. Parish indentures are excepted, and pay 6d. only, by 5 William III. c. 21. For fees given with apprentices, clerks, or servants, bound or articled by indentures, from 1l. to 50l. masters pay for every pound 6d.; and for fees above 50l. one shilling in the pound. 8 Ann. c. 9.

For an account of the more recent statutes and regulations on this subject, see APPRENTICE, SUPPLEMENT.